Some Innovative (And Painless) Programming

When stations play those CDs, and you hear the announcers chat about the music — blah, blah, blah — don’t you wish you could hear what the actual artists have to say about it? So many stations try to make celebrities out of their announcers, but the real celebrities are the people who make the music! It’s all about them. Really.

That’s why I’m so fascinated by this fairly new production group called Virtuoso Voices. It’s not at all the old interview concept, where the announcer is still in the way. This is absolutely all about the artists and the music.

It’s the brainchild of ex-NPR producer David Srebnik and his business partner Cynthia May. I asked them to describe what they do.

Virtuoso Voices offers stations short, concise audio clips of leading performers, including Gil Shaham, Joshua Bell, Murray Perahia, Garrick Ohlsson, Evelyn Glennie, Jennifer Higdon and many others from Classical Music’s A-List.

Some of the clips are designed for station announcers to use to introduce a specific recording by a specific performer. Before airing Hilary Hahn playing her new Sibelius Violin Concerto recording, announcers can set up Hilary talking about how she resists the temptation to “milk” the Concerto’s opening melody.

Other clips relate to a composer, something personal, or musical in general. Hosts can introduce any Murray Perahia recording with his remembrance of tricking his grandmother into thinking he was practicing when, in fact, he was outside playing baseball

Here’s a list of their artists so far. They record new clips each week. I just think they make the programming so much richer. The company works on a subscription model. They send out a monthly CD of clips for you to drop in as you like. They also put out two funder CDs a year, with famous artists pitching to your listeners and telling stories. To me, it’s an amazing service, and I can vouch for the quality.

Excellent productions! I hope you’ll check them out. Here’s the Virtuoso Voices website.

Their motto is “Classical Music’s Virtuosos Want a Word with Your Listeners.”

STEVE ROBINSON

On another note, the Chicago Sun Times reports that longtime radio guy Steve Robinson has been promoted at Chicago’s public radio/TV conglomerate.

Steve Robinson, senior vice president and general manager of classical WFMT-FM (98.7), was promoted to executive vice president for radio and project development at owner Window to the World Communications.
He will continue to oversee WFMT while exploring new ways to enhance development and fund-raising activities.